Japan’s Welfare Ministry research group proposes subsidies to increase number of short term disabled employees

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare experts’ research group has summarized the report of the system to promote employment of people with disabilities in companies. The research group proposes a subsidy system for companies hiring disabled people who work in a short time of less than 20 hours a week and certification system for small and medium sized enterprises with disabled people working environment that is easy to work.

The report will be submitted to the Labor Policy Council of the Advisory Council of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, and will be discussed at the Council for realization such as legislation and budgetary measures.

The report proposed to increase the choice of working methods according to the characteristics of persons with disabilities. There is an increasing number of cases where people with disabilities who physically have difficulty with long working hours work in less than 20 hours a week. The proportion of physically handicapped people working less than 20 hours a week expanded from 1.8% in 2008 to 5.5% in 13 years, the proportion of mentally disabled people from 0.6% in 2008 to 4.2% in 13 years.

However, the current subsidy system for employment of persons with disabilities is not covered by short periods of less than 20 hours a week, and the report suggested the creation of a system to support companies and others hiring disabled people in a short time.

Many companies that do not hire persons with disabilities are small and medium-sized companies with less than 100 employees, and the report also points out the need for a system to encourage SMEs to hire people with disabilities. Establish a certification system for companies that actively hire people with disabilities or set up an environment that is easy to work, and consider that companies that have obtained certification can receive incentives such as low interest loans.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Employment Policy Division for Persons with Disabilities said, “I would like to advance a society where people with disabilities and healthy people can work together by taking advantage of the characteristics and suitability of persons with disabilities.”